Tesla is preparing to offer a new Model Y trim for 2023 with a Standard Range All-Wheel Drive configuration and 4680 batteries that just landed approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In October, we reported that Tesla had applied for and earned Certificates of Conformity for various Model 3, Model X, and Model S trim levels, but the Model Y was never mentioned in the EPA’s database. It was surprising but not alarming, as Tesla still had several months to apply for and receive approval to sell other vehicles that would fall under the 2023 model year.
The EPA has now added Tesla’s Model Y Certificates of Conformity for 2023 models to its database, and instead of just receiving approval for the two configurations it already sells, Tesla received three Certificates of Conformity for the Model Y. The EPA approved the Model Y Long Range All-Wheel-Drive, the Model Y Performance All-Wheel-Drive, and now a new trim, which is listed as “Model Y All-Wheel-Drive.”
Credit: Tesla
Interestingly, Tesla had previously built a Model Y with a Standard Range All-Wheel-Drive powertrain at Gigafactory Texas in April but only offered it to employees. The vehicle had 279 miles of range and offered a more favorable AWD setup. However, it was being sold at close to $60,000, which was a considerably high cost for the range it offered.
It was rumored that this was the Model Y Tesla had built with the highly-anticipated 4680 cell for some time. As it was only available to employees, this only helped catalyze even more speculation that the vehicle featured the automaker’s new cell chemistry.
The 4680 Model Y is elusive. Employees like Tesla’s Senior VP of Powertrain Drew Baglino drives one, and the company is building 4680-equipped Model Ys at Gigafactory Texas. However, the company primarily delivers 2170-equipped Model Ys to customers as the 4680 program is far from fully ramped.
Tesla applied for approval of the three Model Y configurations on September 30 and received Certificates of Conformity on October 19, EPA documents show. Specific range ratings for this trim have not yet been released by the agency.
This could hint that Tesla is preparing to deliver more 4680 Model Ys to customers this year. The vehicle needed to be assessed by the EPA before it can be delivered to customers. Since it features a new chemistry with different range ratings and power outputs, it may have caused the all-electric crossover to gain approval slightly later than the other three cars in Tesla’s lineup.
Tesla’s 4680 cells could enter mass production by the end of the year. The company has already been working with suppliers such as Panasonic to develop prototypes of the cell in preparation for large-scale production in 2023. Kazuo Tadanobu, President and CEO of Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., said Tesla’s 4680 cells will enter mass production on lines in Japan in May 2023.
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Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk hits back at drug use claims, calls publications ‘hypocrites’
Elon Musk showed a clean drug test, dispelling any rumors of drug use that came from unfounded reports from two large media outlets.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded to a report from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, as both publications claimed he was abusing drugs while being involved with President Trump on both the campaign trail and while he was active within the administration after the election.
A bombshell report from the New York Times, published in late May, stated that Musk was regularly using things like ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms, and also stimulants like Adderall, during his time within the Trump administration.
The reports cited inside sources who claimed the Tesla and SpaceX frontman was using substances during his time with the government.
However, Musk published the results of a recent drug test performed at Fastest Labs of South Austin. They showed ‘Negative’ results across the board:
lol pic.twitter.com/pMe3YfXFxS
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2025
Musk was not done there.
He went on to say the New York Times “lies as easy as breathing. It’s normal for them.” He also said both the Times and Wall Street Journal reporters should also publish their own drug test results, stating, “They won’t, because those hypocrites are guilty as sin.”
Great idea. I hereby challenge the NYT and WSJ to take drug tests and publish the results!
They won’t, because those hypocrites are guilty as sin. https://t.co/Z6kf6sj2mS
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2025
Musk said years ago that he received ketamine prescriptions from doctors to treat depression. He said he had it “years ago and said so on X, so this is not even news.” He also said that ketamine “helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but haven’t taken it since then.”
Tesla fans and Musk enthusiasts have joked for days now that, if Musk were to be on drugs, other CEOs should also do them, considering his persistence on work-related projects, long hours, and commitment to his job.
If Elon is on any drugs, I want what he’s having 🤣 pic.twitter.com/dRIuikDyym
— Adam Lowisz 🇺🇸🇵🇱🇪🇺🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@AdamLowisz) June 17, 2025
Musk has now proven that there has been no drug use with this test, and it seems as if the reports could have some sort of legal impact, although he has not said he will take any action.
News
Tesla’s Grok integration will be more realistic with this cool feature
Tesla is preparing Grok for its first integration into vehicles, but it’s making it more robust than ever, firmware shows.
Tesla has not yet integrated the AI assistant Grok into its vehicles, but when it does, it will be even more realistic with a new feature that firmware coding shows.
CEO Elon Musk teased a few months back that Grok would be making its way into vehicles in the near future. The implementation has not yet occurred, but we are confident it will be rolling out soon, especially as Tesla has its sights set on a near-term rollout of the Robotaxi platform.
Tesla’s vehicles expected to get Grok voice assistant—but when?
Grok will enable AI assistance for drivers who are both manually operating Tesla vehicles or using the company’s Full Self-Driving suite. It has been widely popular and extremely useful for users on X, Musk’s social media platform.
However, Tesla hacker green has revealed through firmware that the company is planning to roll out Grok into vehicles with personalities, giving it an even more realistic tone that is totally customizable and catered to whatever the driver wants.
There are also a handful of kids’ versions that will do things like tell stories or play trivia:
In-car grok also got new language tutor personality.
(other personalities:
argumentative
assistant
conspiracy
doctor
kids_story
kids_trivia_game
meditation
motivation
romantic
sexy
storyteller
therapist
unhinged)— green (@greentheonly) June 16, 2025
The true capabilities of Grok are nearly limitless. Back in January, Musk said on a livestream on X that, “You’ll be able to talk to your Tesla and ask for anything.”
Grok appears to only be available on AMD-based vehicles, according to other things green found in the firmware. This means that Intel-based Teslas, which are usually older models, will not enable Grok support for right now.
News
Tesla dominates Cars.com’s Made in America Index with clean sweep
Tesla continues to dominate Cars.com’s Made in America Index with a clean sweep of the Top 4 spots.
Tesla has dominated the Cars.com Made-in-America Index with a clean sweep of the top four spots. All four Tesla vehicles that were eligible for the analysis placed in the top four.
The Model 3 overtook the Model Y for first place this year. The all-electric crossover was first in 2024, but the Model 3 managed to overtake its sibling vehicle to claim the top spot in 2025. The Model Y took second, while the Model S took third, and the Model X took fourth.
This is an improvement from last year, as the Model Y took first, but the Model S and Model X placed fourth and ninth, respectively. The Model 3 was not in the Top 10 in 2024.
🚨 BREAKING: https://t.co/PXZ0g1qn0E’s American-made Index for 2025 is here, and Tesla has swept the TOP FOUR spots with the Model 3 and Model Y leading the way.
The Model S and Model X follow. pic.twitter.com/7PRepTHPBe
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 17, 2025
“Tesla continues to lead, claiming the top four spots and showcasing its commitment to domestic production. About 25% of the more than 400 vehicles on sale in the U.S. made this year’s AMI, and whether a vehicle is No. 1 or No.99, it contributes to the U.S. economy,” Patrick Masterson, lead researcher for the program, said.
More than 400 vehicles were analyzed for this year’s study, with Cars.com officially ranking 117 of them. There were two other EVs in the Top 10, as the Kia EV6 took sixth place, and the Volkswagen ID.4 finished in tenth.
This year’s study reflected major geographic and strategic shifts across the automotive industry. Of the 117 vehicles ranked in the program, they were produced at 36 domestic factories, leaving only 11 total factories that did not yield a car on the list. There are 47 assembly plants in operation in the U.S.
However, there still has not been a vehicle to quite reach the 100 percent domestic parts content, something that is extremely elusive. Masterson says the global supply chain is still extremely crucial to even the most American-built cars on the market.
The average domestic parts content of the Top 10 cars was 83.4 percent in 2006, but that number has shrunk to 70.3 percent in this year’s rankings.
Some might wonder where cars like the Tesla Cybertruck or Rivian R1T are on the list. However, these vehicles did not qualify because the study only considers cars under a gross weight of 8,500 pounds.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk hits back at drug use claims, calls publications ‘hypocrites’
Tesla’s Grok integration will be more realistic with this cool feature
Tesla dominates Cars.com’s Made in America Index with clean sweep
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